KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Matt Cassel, who stepped in for an injured Tom Brady last year and led New England to an 11-5 record, was traded to Kansas City today with linebacker Mike Vrabel for the Chiefs' second-round draft pick.

Cassel emerged as a solid quarterback in his fourth season with the Patriots after Brady hurt his knee less than eight minutes into the opener against Kansas City and was done for the season. A career backup who hadn't started a game since high school, Cassel threw for 3,693 yards and 21 touchdowns in 15 starts.

The Chiefs, coming off a 2-14 season, sent the 34th pick in April's draft to New England.

While Brady began rehabbing a severe knee injury, which required a second operation because of infection, the Patriots put the franchise tag on Cassel. That meant the team would have to pay him $14.5 million to keep him as insurance.

Scott Pioli, who was hired as the Chiefs' general manager in January after seven years as a Patriots executive, moved swiftly to address one of Kansas City's biggest needs. Tyler Thigpen, a former seventh-round pick who was No. 3 on the depth chart at the beginning of the year, wound up starting most of the time last season. That prompted owner Clark Hunt to change his general manager and coach.

"I have a long history with both players," Pioli said. "Mike and Matt are men that I respect both personally and professionally. I look forward to having them as new members of the Chiefs family."

Vrabel was part of three Super Bowl-winning teams in his eight years with New England, primarily as an outside linebacker.